duplicate

American  

[doo-pli-kit, dyoo-, doo-pli-keyt, dyoo-] / ˈdu plɪ kɪt, ˈdyu-, ˈdu plɪˌkeɪt, ˈdyu- /

noun

1. a copy exactly like an original.

   Synonyms:

   reproduction, replica, facsimile

   Antonyms:

   original

2. anything corresponding in all respects to something else.

3. Cards. a duplicate game.

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verb (used with object)

duplicated, duplicating

1. to make an exact copy of.

2. to do or perform again; repeat.

   He duplicated his father's way of standing with his hands in his pockets.

3. to double; make twofold.

verb (used without object)

duplicated, duplicating

1. to become duplicate.

adjective

1. exactly like or corresponding to something else.

   duplicate copies of a letter.

2. consisting of or existing in two identical or corresponding parts; double.

   Synonyms:

   twofold

3. Cards. noting a game in which each team plays a series of identical hands, the winner being the team making the best total score.

idioms

1. in duplicate, in two copies, especially two identical copies.

   Please type the letter in duplicate.

duplicate British  

/ ˈdjuːplɪkəbəl /

adjective

1. copied exactly from an original

2. identical

3. existing as a pair or in pairs; twofold

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noun

1. an exact copy; double

2. something additional or supplementary of the same kind

3. two exact copies (esp in the phrase in duplicate )

verb

1. (tr) to make a replica of

2. (tr) to do or make again

3. (tr) to make in a pair; make double

4. (intr) biology to reproduce by dividing into two identical parts

   the chromosomes duplicated in mitosis

Related Words

See imitate.

Other Word Forms

• duplicability noun
• duplicable adjective
• duplicately adverb
• duplicative adjective
• nonduplicating adjective
• preduplicate verb (used with object)
• quasi-duplicate adjective
• self-duplicating adjective
• unduplicated adjective

Etymology

Origin of duplicate

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin duplicātus (past participle of duplicāre “to make double”), equivalent to duplic- (stem of duplex ) duplex + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

Duplicate describes something that's an exact copy. If you tend to accidentally lock yourself out of your car, it's a good idea to carry a duplicate key with you just in case. The word duplicate is useful when you're talking about a copy of something, like a duplicate of your birth certificate that you keep in a file, or a duplicate driver's license that you apply for after losing the original one. The verb duplicate is pronounced differently, with a long a sound, and it means to make a copy of or to multiply times two. The Latin root, duplicatus, means "to double."

Example Sentences

India's Election Commission says the revision is meant to weed out duplicate or outdated entries and add genuine voters.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

The extra disclosure would duplicate existing reporting by the company, Manifold wrote in a statement on the company website.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

A second analysis focused on 90 duplicate samples to determine whether storage conditions affected accuracy.

From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026

The analysts said it takes time to duplicate “engagement, trust and safety, monetization, and handling physical world problems.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

“I know that, Harry, but if she wakes up and the locket’s gone—I need to duplicate it—Geminio! There...That should fool her....”

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

Related Words

• clone
• copy
• imitate
• mirror
• replicate
• reproduce